Joel 3:1-6

1 “At the time of those events,” says the LORD, “when I restore the prosperity of Judah and Jerusalem,

2 I will gather the armies of the world into the valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will judge them for harming my people, my special possession, for scattering my people among the nations, and for dividing up my land.

3 They threw dice to decide which of my people would be their slaves. They traded boys to obtain prostitutes and sold girls for enough wine to get drunk.

4 “What do you have against me, Tyre and Sidon and you cities of Philistia? Are you trying to take revenge on me? If you are, then watch out! I will strike swiftly and pay you back for everything you have done.

5 You have taken my silver and gold and all my precious treasures, and have carried them off to your pagan temples.

6 You have sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks, so they could take them far from their homeland.

Joel 3:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOEL 3

This chapter, which some make the fourth, contains a prophecy of God's judgments on all the antichristian nations at the time of the Jews' conversion, and the reasons of them, Joe 3:1-3; a threatening of Tyre and Zidon, by way of retaliation, for carrying the riches of the Jews into their temples, and selling their persons to the Greeks, Joe 3:4-8; an alarm to prepare for the battle of Armageddon, or the destruction that shall be made in the valley of Jehoshaphat, Joe 3:9-15; and after that an account of the happy state of the church of Christ, their safety and security, plenty, prosperity, and purity, to the end of the world, Joe 3:16-21.

Footnotes

• [a] Verses 3:1-21 are numbered 4:1-21 in Hebrew text.
• [b] Jehoshaphat means “the judges.”
• [c] Hebrew They cast lots.
• [d] Hebrew to the peoples of Javan.